Thelma
Thelma is queen of the cat room, she struts and prances all day long and loves to be loved! She is a petite 1-year-old with long smokey gray hair, who is spayed and vaccinated. Who could resist those fetching green eyes?
Sparky
This is Sparky. She has an electric personality, so the name is appropriate! She is roughly 7 months old and is always playing, running around, body slamming the other kitties (in a playful way), etc. She is also a huge snuggle bug! This girl would make a good companion for anybody! She is only available for a foster to adopt right now, because she needs to be spayed. 
Brahm
Brahm is a foolish boy, but he’s also the best snuggle baby in the world! At 1.5 years old, he does get the zoomies occasionally, but who couldn’t love that face!?!
Trudy-Lou
Our Trudy-Lou-Who:
One of the cutest Lou’s in Who-Ville
BOING-BOING-BOING
“My name is Trudy Lou! I lived most of my life as a hunter. After my first owner hurt himself and couldn’t care for me anymore, I went with another hunting fellow who was very good to me- but I didn’t want to hunt! He would start me off on a trail and I would just decide to play instead, even engaging all the other hunting dogs in play time and distracting everyone! While it was very cute and charming, it is not the right behavior for a hunting dog. So here I am at the Ark, awaiting my family life!
Anyone want to play?”
Love Trudy-Lou
Great temperament, excellent playmate with other well-behaved dogs, and loves people- Trudy is a GREAT dog. She is going to make an excellent companion.
Trudy will be a fantastic family dog (probably not toddlers, as she likes to jump-as you can clearly see). She is very impressive with her house training, but sometimes has accidents overnight because she is alone at the shelter. During the day though potty accidents! We feel if someone were with her and she were with her family in a house, that there would be minimal accidents and she would do very well. Trudy will need a home where she can play, engage in outside activity with her family, and run around. Trudy is a 4 year old plott-hound, and just a ball of energy. Four years old? DON’T sweat it. This girl is a puppy in her mind and body.
Trudy is vocal and can often times bark when excited. She is a hound- so preferably someone with hound experience would be her perfect owner. We know hounds- they can be wonderful family dogs, but sometimes take a bit of patience and understanding.
Please give us a call to meet Trudy Lou, today!
Cash: “Please let me come home with you”
Cash is sponsored by Kerri Taylor and Angelina Smith.
We are seeking a foster in the meantime of finding the perfect adopter for this poor boy, who is not thriving at the shelter. The shelter can be sad, confusing and very scary for some dogs- and Cash is one of them.
Cash is sad at the shelter, and needs his home soon. He is also open to going into a home environment while awaiting his permanent adoption. Sad or not, Cash is coming in HOT and he’s got some pretty awesome things to tell you about himself.
Cash is a very loving dog full of BIG energy! Also, we KNOW that looks aren’t everything, but let’s just start off by saying- WOWZA, this boy is handsome as heckies. He is with us because his heart broken owner had to move out of the country
Cash LOVES to be outside with his people and go for walkies. He has tons of energy, so if you are an energetic one, Cash will be the perfect best friend to have by your side, whether your hiking mountain, going for a swim, or walking around your neighborhood and meditating. At the end of the day after getting his exercise, we’re sure that Cash would curl up next to your feet and take a nap, letting you know if any intruder comes your way. Also, if you’re a snow bunny like Cash, you two will get a long swimmingly- he loves to play in the snow!
Cash loves to give hugs and is very affectionate. He loves to have his ears and belly rubs. He enjoys squeaky balls and squeaky toys and finds it imperative to do a squeak-ectomy on each squeaky toy he finds. He also gives a handsome smile whenever someone comes in to greet him.
Cash is reactive to other dogs and needs to be an only dog. Cats are unknown, but also unlikely right now. He must also go to a home without children. Preference will be given to adopters with shepherd experience and who are willing to work with a trainer. These requirements may sound daunting, but Cash is worth it. He’s not just a pretty face. Cash is a smart boy. He can sit and lay down like a pro. He’s learning leash manners and to check in on walks. What would help Cash the most is to learn patience, and an adopter patient enough to help him learn.
Some dogs do not do well in the shelter environment, and they react out of fear, stress, and the unknown. Cash really needs his saving grace. Won’t you take him home?
Popoki
They don’t come much cuter than this! Popoki is 7 to 8 years old, and she is looking for her forever home. She would do best being the only cat, as she likes all the attention on her. Please call the shelter to find out more about Popoki.
Amaris
Amaris is 8 years old. She’s very sweet and quite lazy. She’s curious but hesitant. She gets along with others as long as they don’t aggravate her. She really enjoys hidey hole beds.
Pudge
Pudge is about 2 years old. She’s very sweet and loves treats. She’s curious and playful but also has her days when she’d rather be left alone. She has a cloudy eye but it doesn’t cause her any visual problems because it’s from an old injury that healed on its own.
Daffnia
Daffnia is around 6 months old. She is very sweet and curious. She gets along good with others. She’s pretty well behaved and calm for a kitten.
Adara
We love these perfect kitties, who are clam, loving and super sweet!
This is Adara. She is 3 years old. She’s very affectionate and loving. Well behaved and relatively calm. She doesn’t really care for other cats.
Elanor
Poor Elanor reminds us a little bit of Eeyore, but she doesn’t have piglet for a friend or her own rabbit. Instead, we think she’s had a hard life, and is much more on the submissive side. We’ve observed her sometimes being picked on by other dogs. She often hides in the corner of her pen, either when outside or inside. It breaks our hearts. We are really looking forward to placing Elanor in a. kind and patient home where she can come out of her shell. Maybe it will be an only dog household, or perhaps with another dog who is very similar to her to help her relax, build trust, and gain a friend like Poo. Please come save this girl. And like Eeyore, Elanor says: “Thanks for noticing me. It never hurts to look for sunshine.”
Harvey
This gentleman is not judging you. (Actually, we can’t promise that). I mean, look at his face…
Harvey demands all the human attention. Laid back and sweet, this cat is ready to go home! We’d love for you to come meet this guy and see for yourself just why we love him.
7 years old
Rasta
Rasta may have had a rough start in life that he is unable to tell us about, but we at the Ark are ready to change that and turn his future around. Rescued from Puerto Rico, this guy is very scared and shy. But isn’t he the sweetest little Who from Who-Ville?? We feel like he could almost pass as the Grinch’s dog.
Rasta is a year old and will need to go into a quiet household to build trust, and not be stressed.
We will not be adopting Rasta out to a family with small children, as little ones are very scary to timid dogs.
Jack and Waylon
These two dogs are such good boys. They are so quiet and calm, and just really chill to be around. We think that Jack may have eaten a little too much turkey on Thanksgiving (and last Thanksgiving..and the Thanksgiving before that)…but we digress. We LOVE a little extra dog to love! We are happily accepting applications and meet and greet appointments on these guys. They will be thrilled to meet you, too!
Eclison
Eclison is a very shy, timid little fellow. Well, who knows what he’s been through? He tries to tell us, but we aren’t sure what he’s trying to say.
We believe that once Eclison warms up to you, that he is going to be a very fun, trusting and happy little dog.
*Please understand: We will no longer be adopting shy and timid dogs to families with small children. This is because to scared dogs, little children are very scary and unpredictable. Dogs like Eclison need time to warm up and build trust.
Eclison is a year old.
Ankara
We believe Ankara is from the same littler as Christopher, and they were all abandoned at a dangerous construction site in Puerto Rico. It’s sad, yes BUT someone did something about it! While most pups this time of year have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads (or, errr….dancing bones), these pups have visions of their permanent families dancing in their heads. ..Ankara enjoys playing with toys, playing with her brother Christopher, and just having fun.
Christopher
Here’s a story to pull at your heart strings for the holidays: Sweet Christopher was dumped at a construction site in Puerto Rico with his siblings. The upside? He’s now safe at the shelter, with a full belly, and visions of his new family dancing in his head. At only 4 months old, Christopher has lots of love to give, and too many stories to tell. Give us a call to set up an appointment to meet this little fluffer.
Adolf
Puppies do the FUNNIEST things! Do they know they’re being funny? Eh, probably not. But they are having fun just the same and man oh man, they LOVE to please their humans. Meet Adolf! At only 6 months old, it stands to reason that he’s full of silly games, he loves to play, and he’s very friendly. He really can’t wait to go home with his new family and make them happy! Give us a call so we can get you in for an appointment to meet this silly little man.
Ark Alley Cats Training and Workshop
December 16th, 9am
At the Ark Animal Shelter
Ark Alley Cats Training and Workshop
With all the excitement around the Ark’s innovative new program, The Ark Alley Cats, we are offering training on feral cats on December 16th here at the Ark, open to the public. As most of us know, ‘Nobody’s cat is everybody’s cat.’ This training is suited for anyone in the animal welfare industry, or even just those who are willing to help and want to lend a hand. This is our opportunity to open the minds of those folks to our approach with feral cats.
Lea Palmer, the Director of Spirit’s Place in St. Albans will be joining us to discuss her vast experience working with ferals, feral colonies, and what YOU can do to help. We will also be taking an opportunity to build make-shift cat shelters to give them out in our communities.
Spirit’s Place is a cat sanctuary that focuses on educating the public on feral and community cats. Spirit’s Place mostly serves Somerset, Pisquataquis and Penobscot counties. The Ark is pleased to collaborate and expand, providing similar services in Washington and Hancock Counties.
We are trying to reach the community and offer some education around feral cats. Spirit’s Place’s motto is: “Not everyone can have a home, but everyone can have a life.” This is exactly what we want to convey- not ALL cats are suited for indoor living. While those folks that are always trying to socialize wild and feral cats and are keeping them inside have their hearts in the right places, this method is most often ineffective and not conducive to a cat’s contentment. We appreciate the people who are concerned for cats during the winter and want them safe- we are on the right track with this caring mindset! However, cats don’t always need to come inside. They need other cats. They need feeding stations. They need to be spayed/neutered. Also, please always remember: Practicing kindness to living things does not mean bringing them home. There are plenty of other ways to help.
For those of you that aren’t aware, Ark Alley Cats Program (AACP) is offering traps, education on trapping and T-N-R (trap-neuter-return) of cats in Wasington and Hancock County. The Ark has even gone the extra step to put a building on our property to house displaced feral cats. This is designed for the cats that are absolutely unable to be returned from the property in which they were trapped, OR other cats that come into the shelter by other means, and cannot be kept in the main shelter due to an inability to be adopted as an Ark pet. This AACP building will allow these cats the ability to come and go to and from the building and roam our 80-acres of property. These cats may be able to be adopted out as barn cats in pairs, and who knows? Maybe some will even turn out to be stray rather than feral, being able to be adopted as a pet or an inside/outside kitty. What if none of these outcomes occur? Then the kitties are happy, healthy, and not reproducing.
\Why Ark Alley Cats?
Feral cats that are brought to shelters often take up room in a cage that could be utilized for a domesticated cat. Often, they occupy this space for long periods of time due to an inability to be adopted. This in turn decreases the shelter’s ability to help a larger number of cats. More important to note, is that the feral cat is often unhappy and extremely stressed in this environment. When an animal is born and has learned to survive outside, we do not bring them inside and confine them. As Lea says: “We don’t go around and gather up the porcupines, squirrels and chipmunks when it starts to get cold out, do we?”
Come to the Ark and listen to our innovative solutions on caring for and helping feral cats the right way. Feeding stations, TNR, safe trapping methods, ect. We will talk about when cats can be “returned” and when they can’t. We will have a forum on ways to overcome resistance from our communities when it comes to innovative approaches on dealing with ferals. Come join us for this conversation! Please email Shaina at administration@thearkpets.org to reserve your spot.. We are graciously accepting donations for Spirit’s Place for Lea’s time, travel, and expertise.
Ark Administrator
Shaina R. Fraser